SANTA CRUZ - Two years to the day after a bicyclist fell crossing the Beach Street railroad tracks in a dedicated bike lane, the city agreed on Tuesday as part of a settlement to re-configure the lanes.

The City Council approved the $7,000 change to make the lanes cross the tracks at a perpendicular angle, rather than a 45-degree angle, to improve safety. The realignment also creates sharper turns and warning signs ahead of the crossing to raise awareness about the impending intersection.

"We're being more cautious because of her accident," said Mark Dettle, the city's public works director.

Carly LaFont, 32, of Santa Cruz, injured her shoulder May 22, 2010, when she fell from her bike after a wheel became stuck in the tracks. Another woman, Patricia Cross of Capitola, fell at the same site several months earlier.

The council, under staff's recommendation, denied financial claims from both women, and staff insisted at the time the intersection was safe and required no improvements, including additional warning signs or markings. But LaFont hired local lawyer Laura Walther, who filed a lawsuit and later negotiated with public works officials and the city attorney's office to make the lanes cross the tracks at a 90-degree angle.

Walther said Dominican Hospital medical personnel attested to numerous injuries treated for bike accidents at the same location, which is in front of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The city designed the lanes more than five years ago to keep bicyclists away from sometimes heavy vehicle traffic.

The city has offered LaFont a $15,000 settlement, but Walther said she wants to see the lane changes put into effect before dropping her suit. The next court date for which is July 30.

"Our motivation is to make things safer, so this will feel good," Walther said.

In other business, the council:

• Approved more than $100,000 in contracts with consultants who will put together a habitat management plan and interpretive display program for Arana Gulch as required by state approval for new multiuse trails to be paved in the greenbelt.

• Approved a request from the Parks and Recreation Department to rededicate Derby Park after Sergeant Charles Derby, a police officer who worked with youth, and allowing Derby's family to place a memorial plaque at the site.

• Approved a historical plaque for West Cliff Drive designating the Santa Cruz World Surfing Reserve, which includes seven miles of coastline from Natural Bridges State Beach to Opal Cliffs.